De La Salle edges Patterson in overtime

De La Salle and Patterson went toe-to-toe in Class 3A regional round playoff action Tuesday, but De La Salle, the No. 10 seed defeated Patterson, the No. 7 seed, 67-64 in overtime in front of a nearly packed house.
It’s the third consecutive year Patterson has lost in the second round of the playoffs.
The Lumberjacks (19-7) trailed 29-27 at halftime after a late Cavaliers’ run capped by Quincy Cage’s 3-point play with 26 seconds left.
De La Salle’s 6-foot, 5-inch center David Williams led the Cavs’ first-half scorers with 12.
Williams battered the undersized Jacks on the boards all night.
Patterson center Kenneth Washington also had a strong half with eight points.
De La Salle guard Troy Nisby opened the third quarter with a long 3-pointer, and De La Salle extended its lead to 34-27. However,
later, Patterson’s Nehemiah Augustus answered with his own 3-point bomb. Teammate Taylan Grogan also connected on a trey, and the tug-of-war was on.
Patterson took a 41-38 lead with 3:01 remaining on a 4-on-1 fast break that concluded with a layup and 3-point play opportunity
by Grogan. However, he missed the free-throw.
De La Salle (24-5) went to its full-court press after three straight empty trips.
“We usually press a little bit more than we did tonight, but we didn’t want to let Patterson get into the open court because they are really good there, so we wanted to keep them in front of us,” De La Salle head coach Paul Kelly said. “But I do think our pressure in the third quarter turned the game; it got momentum back on our side.”
Nisby’s 3-pointer tied the game at 43 at the end of the quarter. The back-and-forth continued in the fourth quarter until De La Salle looked as if it would begin to pull away, taking a 56-46 lead with 3:13 to play.
But that’s when Augustus put on his Superman cape. The junior scored eight points, including two 3-pointers, in the last two minutes as the ’Jacks fought back to tie the game at 60 at the end of regulation.
In the four-minute overtime period, Patterson’s poor free throw shooting continued. The Jacks were 8-of-21 from the free-throw line in the game and 1-of-6 in OT.
“We shot really well from the free-throw line this season, so to miss so many free-throws tonight was a big letdown,” Patterson
head coach Ryan Taylor said. “We also missed several layups tonight, and I think we were rushing our shots because of their height advantage.”
Patterson still managed to stay in the game and only trailed 66-64 with 57 seconds left.
De La Salle missed a 3-pointer, and Patterson’s Mykel Jones dashed to the basket but he was fouled and injured on the play.
The nationally-ranked college football prospect was unable to shoot his free-throws and didn’t return to the game.
Sophomore Jordan Butler replaced Jones but missed both free-throws.
Patterson intentionally fouled De’Vante Lebranch with 14 seconds left, and he made 1-of-2 free-throws for a 67-64 De La Salle lead.
The Cavaliers were 11-of-19 from the free-throw line.
Patterson got two good looks at 3-pointers with Augustus and D.J. Jones but both missed, and the ’Jacks’ seasoned ended.
Patterson last advanced to the quarterfinals in 2012.
“It’s hard because I know how much our kids wanted to win this game,” Taylor said. “But I’m very proud of them. They competed
hard. Just look at the run they made at the end of the fourth quarter just to force overtime. The guys battled, they competed, and I’m very proud of them. I just wish it would have gone our way.”
Augustus led Patterson with 21 points while Grogan had 20. Washington had 10, Mykel Jones had seven, Daylon Charlot had four, and Butler, two.
Williams finished with 19 points to lead De La Salle while Nisby had 16.
Tuesday’s game was the final one for Patterson seniors Charlot, Malik Garrett and Devontre Richard.
“These three guys provided great leadership on and off the court and at practice and games,” Taylor said. “All of them have been in our program for four years. They are three young men who are going to go off to college and be successful. I am proud and honored to have coached them. They will be missed but will always be a part of the Lumberjack basketball family.”
Additional reporting by The Daily Review Sports Editor Geoff Stoute.